Gas-actuated rock-drill.



PATENTED Arms, 1907.

J. v. RICE, in. GAS AGTUATED ROCK DRILL.

APPLIOATICH TILED 4P3. 16.1903.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

- PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907. J.- -v. RICE, JR. GAS AGTUATED ROCK DRILL.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.16.1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR f e// 4 ATTORNEY I. Z e" J h-llllllllf' WITNESSES No. 862,847. PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

I J. v. RICE, JE- GAS AGTUATED ROGK DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED APR-.16,1903.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

"g'- U1 Eiiwmw wanna?! l l I T onsion.

JOHN V. RICE, JR, OF EDGEWATER PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONF-EIGHTH TO ALBERT EDWARD TOWER, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, AND SEVEN-EIGHTHS TO FRED n. TASKER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

' UNI ED STATES PATEN Patented Align 6, 1907. Original application filed June 8,

Divided and this application filed April 16, 1903. Serial H0.162.965.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1895, Serial No. 552,163.

vide two separate bores or chambers for the reception of two separate free pistons or piston heads, that are positively connected together by means of some suit- 'able connector or connecting rod, it being further noted that these chambers serve as combustion chambers wherein the explosions of the gas take place for the purpose of imparting the necessary impulses to the pistons for operating the drill mechanism; and in each 'cylinder there is a chargereceiving or compression chamber and a separate explosion chamber, the two chambers beingseparated from each other by a free piston, which may be considered as a self-balanced piston. Within these cylinders A A is a longitudinal l piston rod B which runs through suitable packed bearings in the end of cylinder A and in the division between the cylinders, and I is employed to transmit power to the drill. To the outer end of rod B the drill proper is attached at B, ploycd to effect the attachment. Thecylinders A A are jointly supported in the same casing carried by some suitable supporting frame, as Q on which, they, together with all the other connected parts, are adjustable by means of a screw, as Q, having handle Q, or by some other equivalent and convenient device.

I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to anyspecial mechanism for supporting'or adjusting the drill mechanism. Neither am I to be restricted to any particular form in the making of the general framework of my device, but I reserve the liberty of constructing and arranging all such parts in whichever manner may seem most appropriate and satisfactory.

0n the piston rod B within cylinder A is a piston C made preferably integral with rod B, and likewise on rod B within cylinder A is a similar piston C, these pistons C C being of proper size to neatly fit the bore To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN V. RICE, Jr., a citizen of l the United States of America, and a resident of Edgewater Park, county of Burlington, State of New Jer- I sey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasuk ctuated Rock-Drills, of which the fol-' lowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in gas, explosive, or other internal combustion engines, I for various uses, and especially for use with rock-drills I and similar cutting mechanism for operating upon hard substances such as stone, coal and the like, the I object of the invention being to provide a simple and efficient mechanism whereby a gas or other explosive substance may be permitted to actuate the drilling devices The subject matter of the present application relates to the general structure of the engine or motor that actuates the drill, and it is a division of another application for Letters Patent filed by .me originally on June 8th, 1895, Serial Number 552,163, which application resulted in the issue of my Letters Patent No. 749,324, dated January 12, 1904, 'entitled' improvements in electric sparking ignition apparatus for gas rock drills. I t

The invention therefore consists essentially in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts substantially as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings illustrating my invention, Figure l is atop plan view of my new and improved gas-actuatedrock-drill. Fig. 2'is a longitudinal sec tional view of the same with certain parts in elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation. Fig. 4 is a transl verse sectional view. Fig. 5 is another transverse sec tion and shows the arrangement of ratchet and pawls for rotating the drill. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the gas igniting devices.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout all the different figures ofthe drawing.

My drill mechanism consists essentially of a double acting gas, explosion, or internal combustion motor, as hereinafter described and claimed, for actuating a drill. There may be one or more cylinders, and one or more pistons, arranged in a variety of ways. The particular-specimen of mechanism illustrated and described is given by way of example only.

A A designates two cylinders of substantially the same form, character and size, said cylinders being placed in rectilincal alinement with each other so as to constitute together in reality a single body or cylinder, having an intermediate division in order to prof uated. The pistons are both provided with passages running-transversely through them, which passages are arranged in a circular series, see Fig. 4. The passages in piston C have the reference letter 1', and in piston C,

' the reference letter 0. By observing piston C it will be noticed that the passages c are preferably inclined inwardly from each side of the piston, so that one half of each passage has an inclination at an angle to the remaining half,'it being thought that this iornror di-. rection of passage is preferable for many reasons. In the piston C the passages c the axis of the piston. It is immaterial, however, what the form, direction or number of these piston passages may be, it being only essential that they shall provide a quick, easy transit for the gas or other explosive mixture from one side of the'piston to the other from the charge-receiving chamber to the explosion chamber in a manner to be presently more fully explained. Each of the respective cylinders within whisph they are silany suitable means being emare straight and parallel to of thepistons is provided with a valve plate or ring for controlling the passage of the gas through the aforesaid passages. I

The piston C is provided at its left hand side with the valve plate or ring E, which is of annular form, and is loose upon the piston rod B and is consequently slidable thereon. The valve ring E is adapted to cover the left hand end of the several passages c. In addition to being loosely mounted upon the piston rodB it is further held by means of the rigid pins or headed studs r.Z, that are fixed in the adjoining face of piston C and which pass loosely through suitable openings in the valve ring E. Said studs (I serve the purpose of preventing the ring E from rotating andalso of limiting its movement away from the face of the piston C.

The ring E is provided with a series of circular holes or perforations e that are not co-incident with the passages s but alternate-therewith as shown in Fig. 4, so

that when the valve ring E is closed against the face of the piston C the passages 0 will be closed, butwhen it is removed' slightly from the end of said passages, then the gas can not only pass through the passages 0 but can a so pass through the openings 2 in the ring E, and thus r an be transferred from one side to the other of the pis- ,on. This movement of the gas takes place in exhausting. When the piston 0 moves to the left band, see' Fig. 1, it will carry with it the ring E, which will, of course, be in close contact'with the piston C and will cover the passages 0, but when piston O is moving toward the right hand the valve ring E will no longer be -close against the face of piston C, but being loose thereby allowing the passages c to be opened, and consequently when the piston G is pursuing its movement toward the right hand the gas or other explosive mixture has a free opportunity to pass through the openings in the piston and-the valve thereof. A similar expla-- nationmay be made with regard to the valve E, be-

longing to the other piston C Said valve ring E is located at the right hand side of pistonC instead of at its left, as is valve ring E with respect to piston O. The

{arrangement and operation of valve ring E, however, is exactly similar to that of valve ring E, and hence furth er explanation of the same is unnecessary at this time.

The portion of the piston rod B which lies within the cylinder A is made hollow to provide a tubular cavity '1) to receive the grooved rod-D which is made integral with the disk D and the ratchet wheel R, see Figs. 2 and 5. The ratchet wheel R is situated in a recess in the right hand head of cylinder A and is engaged by two pawls T 7', which pawls are kept in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means of the springs r r. These pawls r 1., while they permit the rotation of the ratchet Wheel in one direction, effectually prevent it from rotating in the other. The spiral grooves cut in the rod D are engaged by the lug or lugs b, or by internal ribs as the case may be on the inside of the cavity balread y referred to. It will be evident, therefore, that-in, consequence of this arrangement of the piston rod with the ratchet mechanism, said piston rod will during one reciprocation be permitted to pursue a rectilineal movement without rotating, While at the next reciprocation it will not only pursue a rectilineal movement but will also rotate to a greater or less 8X-'- tent in order to accomplish the necessary shifting of the drill at the end of each stroke, in like manner with the customary operation of rock-drills. For instance, when the piston rod moves to the left the rod D will in consequence of its connection with the piston rod rotate loosely and the ratchet wheel R will slip idly over the teeth of the pawls, but on the reverse movement when the piston rod moves up 'or works to the right the pawls r 1' will keep. the'ratchet wheel from rotating, thereby causing the rod D to remain stationary, and'the result will follow that the piston rod will be rotated to a greater or less extent. I

At each end of my improved drill machine is a gas igniting device which is preferably electrically operated. One of these devices is located, therefore, at the outer end of each of the cylinders A A I will now pro ceed to describe the construction and arrangement of the parts of the gas igniting mechanism.

J denotes a casing which is screwed into the side of the cylinder A and is closed by the outer cover J fastened to casing J by means of the screws) or any other suitable devices. At the center of the cover J 3 a pipe K is attached thereto which leads to the cylinder A and enters the wall thereof at a point a short distance from the right hand end of said cylinder, see Fig. 1. On the wall of the cylinder A at a point about opposite to the point of entrance of pipe K is situated a casing J similar in form and function to the casing J and similarly attached to the cylinder. From the c'asingJ a' pipe K leads to the cylinder A and enters the wall thereof .at a point approximately opposite to the casing J, see Fig. 1 and also Fig. 3. I

The casings J and J being of similar construction, an explanation of one of them will be sufficient for both. By referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the casing J is divided interiorly into two compartments by means of a flexible diaphragm M, which is held in place by having its edge inserted between the casing J and'the cover J. This diaphragm is made 'of any suitable flexible or yielding material, such as, for instance, a thin steel plate, and is preferably corrugated in order to increase the contact surface of the gas therewith, as well as to improve its resilient power. The gas which enters the casing J through the'pipe K acts against one side of the diaphragm M but does not pass to the other side thereof. On this latter side are two electric wires or conductors. L L, running from some suitable point and'passing through the casing J until they enter the adjoining cylinder A or A as the case may be, where the two points or electrodes, L L, at. the ends of these two wires, are situated in close contact'with each other i and adapted to give a good spark when the electric circuit is closed. One of the wires L, which passes through the casing J, is a continuous wire'but the other is broken iritdtwo parts, having two inclined contact ends, 1 l, the end Z being carried by the flexible diaphragm M, while the end I is stationary on casing J. It will be observed that a pressure against the opposite side of diaphragm M will cause the wire end Z to come into contact with wire end 1, although these two ends are normally out of contact with each other, being sepmaintaining an accurate contact between them for the and preferably has a necessary length of time after contact has once been made. When contact between these ends is so made as stated, it will be evident that by conductivity a spark will be produced between the electrodes L L, which spark will necessarily ignite the volume of gas within that part of the cylinder where the electrodes are located. Thus we have a gas igniting device for each cylinder which will ignite a volume of gas at the end of each piston stroke in order to give the necessary impulses to the piston, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

At the adjoining ends of the cylinders A A are the ports I, which are induction ports, and through which the gas or other explosive mixtures or combined gas and air enters the respective cylinders for use therein. At the opposite ends of the cylinders A A, the side walls thereof are provided with the outlet or cduction ports T T through which the exhaust takes place. Also at a point, say about midway between the induction ports I and the eduction ports T are situated the auxiliary outlet ports t, through which the gas passes to act on the diaphragm that operates the exhaust valve. In connection with the inlet ports I are arranged suitable inlet valves, and in connection with the ports '1": are arranged suitable exhaust valves.

I will now explain the construction and arrangement of my improved exhaust valves.

N and N 1 designate small chambers which are secured upon the wall of said cylinder A, there being a similar pair of chambers on the cylinder A. The port T es.- tablishes communication between the bore of cylinder A and the chamberN, and the port 1 establishes an entrance from the bore of cylinder A to the chamber N Theexhaust valve 0 is located within the chamber N, beveled periphery in order that it may fit more accurately upona beveled seat.- The valve 0 is secured upon the valve stem n; one end of the stem is supported in a recess in the wall of casing N, while the otherend passes through a bearing in the wall of the casing N and is attached to the flexible diaphragm P, which is secured transversely across the interior of the chamber N. A flat spring p is carried by the rod n and bears against the outer side of casing N at a point contiguous to the seat of valve 0. On the rod n is a nut o, engaging a screw-threaded portion of said rod and acting to adjust the tension of the spring p. It will be evident that a pressure within the chamber N 1 upon the diaphragm P will move the rod n and open the valve 0. When this pressure is relaxed the tension of the diaphragm P will restore the valve 0 to its closed position, and the spring p will assist in the restoration, and will also keep the valve closed until a pressure. again acts upon the diaphragm P.

I will now explain the construction and operation of the valve mechanism for admitting gas, vapt", a mixture of gas and-air, or some other suitable explosive compound, into the two cylinders through the inlet ports I I.

F denotes a gas supply pipe running from some suitable gas supply. I I

At the end of the pipe F are the two elbows f f, which connect with the two valve casings G G,'which are constructed similarly to each other and are both secured upon the aforesaid cylinders.

The pipe F is provided with a. valve F for graduating or regulating the supply of air which he pipe F may deliver to the casings G G. These casings G G are provided witlrlateral openings It h, which \dinit air to mingle with the gas in order that the compound may be delivered to the ports I.

H H denote valves which are situated-in tl'e upper [ends of the casings G G and are adapted to open downwardly against the pressure of the spiral spring i tensioned beneath these valves. Each valve H is placed loosely upon a vertical rod h, which has a bearing in a horizontal part integral with the body of the casing G. said part consisting simply of open work webs or bars between which the fuel can pass.

To the lower end of the rod h is rigidly attached a second valve H, which likewise ppens downwardly and has arranged beneath it a spiral spring i, which is tensioned against the base of easing G, adjacent to the port I. The upper end of each stern b has a head which is above the valve H, and which, when the stem is drawn down, pulls against the valve H and causes the latter to descend and open. These inlet valves may operate either as suction valves or they may be forced open by the entering gas. It will be evident that, as each piston or piston head moves away from the port I with which it operates, a suction will be produced which will open the inlet valve and draw gas and air into the charge-receiving chamber of said cylinder on one side of the piston. When the valve H opens, thereby coinpressing the spring 1', the stem Jr will be drawn down- Ward-to a certain extent through its bearing, and this Will result in the drawing down and opening of the valve H, thereby compressing the spring 1, and, of course, as soon as the valve H is opened, gas will pass from the elbow f downward through the port I, and the air which enters the casing G through the lateral opening H will mingle with the gas and enter with it into the cylinder. It will also be observed that the pressure of the gas upon the valve H may cause the latter to open independently and allow a certain pressure to escape through the opening hl Thus the valve H may open and the'valve H remain closed. The springs i t" operate obviously to close the valves to which they respectively belong, when the opening force is removed. Although I have herein shown and described these inlet valves, yet I distinctly wish it understood that I do not intend to be confined to their use. They are presented here merely by way of example, and I reserve the liberty of employing such substitutes therefor as experience and good judgment may suggest.

- I'will now describe the operation of my improved rock-drill. Suppose, for instance, that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and that the pistons begin to reciprocate toward the left under the impulse of an explosion occurring in the explosion chamber at the right handcnd of piston 0 As the piston 0 travels toward the left, the gas in advance thereof will be compressed and as soon as the piston passes the port there can obviously be no longer any effect upon the diaphragm P of the exhaust valve, and consequently said valve will remain for the time being firmly closed. Also in consequence of the movement of the piston 0 toward the left, a suction will be created at the right hand end of said piston, which will draw gas into the-v charge-receiving end of cylinder A through the port I. At the same time that gas is being drawn in through port I into cylinder A,'port I belonging to cylindpr A will not admit gas because the inlet valve atthatpoint will be closed, there being, as has already been'shown, a reverse arrangement of all the parts belonging to cylinder A from what appertains with respect to cylinder A. As the piston G moves toward the left, the gas in advance thereof will also be compressed, and also the valve ring E will be released from the passage c,-and hence the store of gas at the left 'oipiston C, which entered cylinder A during the previous movementot' piston C, will pass through the passages c c and also through the perforations in the valve ring E until it gets to the other side of the valve E. Alsoas the piston C travels past the port t, the increase of pressure due to the explosion will act through the port 15 andagainstthe'diaphragm P, opening valve 0, so that thespent gas may exhaust therethrough. At the moment that thepiston.

. tion will take place in the various parts of the apparatus as has just taken place during the reciprocation oi the piston in the opposite direction.

I wish it distinctly understood that what- I have herein described and illustrated is to be taken simplyas an example of my invention. I reserve the liberty of vary ing from the precise strnctural details and peculiarities oi arrangement herein shown so far as it may .benecessary to do so'in giving ample scope to my claims, and in securing to me the broadest posible protection in the manufacture and use of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1" In an explosive engine, the combination with a cyl inder having a charge-receiving chamber and an explosion" chamber. of an inlet port near one end; valve means con trolling said port, an exhaust port near the opposite-end,

p ressiire-actuated valve means controlling said-port, an intermediate lateral port between the two. ends for the outlet of pressure gases to actuate said means, a piston between the charge-receiving and the explosionrharnbers, said piston having valve means plosive mixture from the charge-receiving chamber to the explosion chamber, and means fdr causing an electric spark to explode the gas 'to propel the piston alternately in oppgsite directions.

'2. A rear compression internal combustion. motor hav ing a double-actlng unignited charge compressing free piston. and :1 free power transmitting element connected therewith.

1;. A motor having a self-balanced piston situated between chambers for confined compressed explosivech'arges or gas or vapor, and power transmitting means connected with such piston.

-l. A plurality of compressing chambers and separate explosion chambers, free connected piston heads in the explosion chambers, and means for supplying explpsive charges from .the compressing to the explosion chambers and firing the-same to propel said piston heads reciprocally in both directions.

5. A plurnlity of compressing and explosion chambers, free piston heads therein, positively connected for mutual rcciprocutiom' means for supplying explosive charges to vthe piston heads, and means explosion of a charge by and for transferring the ex the compressing chambers. transferring the charge. to the explosion chamber and firing the same therein to propel the piston heads reciprocally in both directions.

(1. A plurality of explosion chambers each having inlet and exhaust ports, free piston heads in said chambers positively connected for mutual reciprocation to open and close said ports and to supply explosive charges to said chambers through said inlet ports, means for firing said charges and a free power transmitting element nctunted by the piston heads.

7. Explosion chambers, means for supplying unignited explosive charges of'gas or vapor to and firing the same in said chambers, free piston in said chambers positively connected for mutual reciprocation, an axially moving free power transmitting element connected with said piston heads anda guide for said element.

8. Separate charge compressing and explosion chambers in pairs, free piston heads, one for each pair, means positively connecting the piston heads for mutual reciprocation, a freepower transmitting element connected with for causing the compression and explosion of a charge by and-against e'ach piston head at each complete reciprocation.

9. The combination with separate charge compressing and explosion chambers arranged in pairs, of free piston heads, one for each pair. means positively connecting said piston heads and means for causing the compression and ugaiusoeach piston head at each complete reciprocation.

-10. In'an explosion engine, n'body provided with separme charge compressing and explosionchambers. a free piston between said chambers. and a free power transmitting element connected with the piston.

. 11. A body having separate charge compressingand explosion chambers in pairs, supply ports, each connectinga compression chamber with an explosion chamber, an inlet for each compression chamber and an exhaust port for each explosion chamber; free piston heads for said pairs respectively, positively conrected for mutual reciprocation,

each closing the supply and exhaust ports of its explosion cha her during compression and explosion means for clinging explosions for propelling the piston heads respectively, and afree power transmitting element connected with the piston heads.

12. A body provided with a plurality of separate charge compressing chambers and explosion chambers respectively, free piston heads therein, positively connected for mutual reciprocations, and a freepower transmitting element connected with the piston heads.

13. A body provided with a plurality of :ilined separate ,;charge'compressing chambers and explosion chambers rev spectively.

axiallyalined free piston heads in said clnunhers-positively connected for mutual reciprocation, and a free power transmitting element connected with the piston heads and arranged in axial alinement with the chambers.

"14. A body provided with a plurality of alined separate charge compressing chambers and explosion chambers respectively and. a bearing; free piston heads in the chambers. an axially movable element in the bearing and means for positively connecting the element with the piston heads. Separate charge compressing and explosion chambers-piston heads therefor. positively connected for mutual reciprocation and having variable termination of stroke at both ends; means for supplying explosive charges to said explosion chambers through said compression chambers. and means for firing the charges in each explosion chamber when the piston head therefor is within the zone oi? its stroke termination.

16. Aplurality of axially alined close-ended separat'e charge compressing and explosion chambers in pairs, 21 free piston head for each pair. a connector positively connccted with said piston heads. anda free power transmitting element connected with the connector.

' 17. Explosion chambers, means for supplying unignited explosive charges or gas or vapor to and firing the same in said chambers-free piston heads in said chambers rigidly connected'for mutual reciprocation, a free power transmitting element connected'with said piston heads and a guide for said element.

connecting a drill or other tool to said pistons, means for causing an explosion of gases against first one of said pistons and then against another of said pistons to recipro cate the same, a casing. said cylinders being mounted in said casing, a frame, said casing being slidably mounted in said frame, and means to move said casing along said frame. 20. A plurality of cylinders, each of said cylinders containing a piston, said pistons being connected, means for connecting a drill or other tool to said pistons, means for causing an explosion of gases against first one of said pistons and then against another of said pistons, means for cushioning said pistons throughout the length of their stroke, a casing, said cylinders being mounted in said cas-' ing, a frame, said casing being slidably mounted in said frame, and means to move said casing along said frame.

21. Two pistons connected by a piston rod and arranged in their respective cylinders, means for connecting a drill or tool to said piston rod, means to cause an electric spark,

and explode a gas alternately against 'each piston at the 7 end of each stroke, a casing, said cylinders being mounted in said casing, a frame, said casing being slidably mounted in said frame, and means to move-said casing along said frame.

22. A'p uralit of oppositely arranged cylinders, apiston in each'cylinder', said pistons being connected, a charge receiving-chamber in each cylinder, each piston sliding in one of said charge receiving chambers an explosion chamher opposite each charge receiving-chamber, but separated therefrom by a piston, means for causing an electric spark alternately in each explosion chamber to explode a gas therein to propel the adjacent piston, or casing, said cylinders being mounted in said casing, a frame, said casing being slidahly mounted in said frame, and means to move said casing along said frame.

iii. In an explosive engine, the combination of two cyl inders in rcctilineal alineinenl. with each other, each cylinder having a charge-revelving chamber and an explosion chamber, two pistons connected by a piston rod and arranged in their respective cylinders. means for connecting a drill or tool to said piston rod. lsdnlet ports on the wall of the cylinders, donllie-chambered and diaphragin-opcraled cxliaustvalves likewise on the walls of the cylinders, secondary exhaust ports intermediate between the inlet ports and the must valves. and valve means on the pistons for transh ring the explosive mixture from the inlet side of the pistons to the explosion side, substantially as set forth. v

24. In an explosive engine, the combination with a cylinder. having a charge-receiving chamber and also an explosion chamber. a piston in the cylinder between the two chambers, valve means on said piston for transferring the explosive mixture from the charge-receiving chamber-to the explosion chamber. an igniting means for firing the mixture so as to propel the piston alternately in opposite directions, an exhaust 'valve casing havingtwo compartments together with the exhaust valve construction having a valve proper located within one of the said compartments, a stem which passes through both compartments, and a diaphragm in the other compartment connected to and operating said stein, both of said compartments cominunicating with the explosion chamber of the cylinder through lateral ports, substantially as described.

Signed at New York this 30th day of Sept. 1902.

JOHN V. RICE, .ln.

Witnesses:

John H. Hxznurox, Faun E. 'JAsKn-a. 

